McLoughlin grabs Grade 2 prize with Rossa

Santa Rossa made it two from two when stepping up to claim Grade 2 glory at Leopardstown in the Coolmore NH Sires Irish EBF Mares bumper.

Dermot McLoughlin 's mare, carrying colours of Pat Conway, tracked the leaders in the early stages of the two-miler and was keen under Finny Maguire.

She was produced to challenge turning into the straight and got on top inside the final furlong to post a convincing three-and-a-quarter length success over Bigbadandbeautiful

The winner had scored at 25/1 on her debut at Fairyhouse in mid-December and McLoughlin is expecting plenty more to come from the inexperienced daughter of Jeremy:-

“Finny said she was very green and that she was so keen he thought she wouldn't get home.

“He said she quickened up well and she's very smart. He thought turning in he had plenty of horse but after pulling so hard he didn't know whether he'd get up that bit of a hill.

“She's only finding her way because basically the only two times she's galloped on grass is the two times she's won.

“We haven't been able to get her out but she's smart and we've liked her from day one.

“Finny said to me that she wants more juice and hopefully she's alright after that.

“We'll let the owner decide where he wants to go and we'll have to look after her anyway.

“I've plenty of things in my head and of course I'd like to go to Cheltenham but he might want to put her away.

“He was humming and hawing about running her with the ground but I said it was an opportunity for black-type, as he breeds himself, and there was a good purse on top of it.

“So it was all positive bar the ground. Hopefully we'll get away with it.”